HOW TO GET THERE: Take I-287 to I-78 West. Continue on I-78 to Exit 4 (Warren Glen/Stewartsville). Turn right at the bottom of the ramp and continue for 1.8 miles to a blinker light. Make a right onto Washington Street (County Route 638) and continue for 2.4 miles to Route 57. Turn right onto Route 57, then immediately turn left onto Montana Road. In 2.0 miles, bear left at a Y-intersection onto Richline Road, then, in 0.3 miles, turn left onto Merrill Creek Road. Bear right at the next fork, and continue to the main parking area for Merrill Creek Reservoir. Park here and walk to the visitor center.

From the rear of the visitor center, a trail leads into the woods. Follow this trail for a short distance to a fork, then bear left, following the red-blazed Timber Trail, which passes through an area where many trees were uprooted by Superstorm Sandy in October, and then runs along the shore of the reservoir.

Soon you’ll reach a small beach on the left, with a panoramic view over the reservoir. Here, the trail turns right onto a woods road. At the next junction, take the left fork. You are now the blue-blazed Shoreline Trail.

A short distance beyond, concrete steps on the right lead to the stone foundations of the former Cathers farmhouse. After crossing a wet area on a boardwalk, you’ll pass more stone ruins on both sides of the trail.

Just beyond, the yellow-blazed Farmstead Trail comes in from the right. Continue ahead, now following both blue and yellow blazes. At the next junction, turn left to continue on the blue-blazed Shoreline Trail. On the left, you’ll notice the stone ruins of a lime kiln.

Soon, you’ll reach a viewpoint over the reservoir in an open area. Here, the trail turns right, shortcutting a peninsula that juts into the reservoir. Upon reaching a narrow arm of the reservoir, it turns right again and follows a rocky footpath parallel to the shore.

After paralleling the reservoir for some distance, the blue trail turns uphill and reaches a T-junction. Turn left, now following yellow markers. At the next trail junction, turn left again, following the sign for the black-blazed Perimeter Trail, and cross Upper Merrill Creek on a wooden footbridge.

The trail now turns left and follows an attractive footpath along the reservoir, running along the shore in several spots. In another three-quarters of a mile, after briefly joining a woods road, you’ll come to the first of the four dams of the reservoir. Here, the trail turns left and crosses the crushed-rock dam, with paved Fox Farm Road just beyond. Beyond the dam, follow a dirt road which curves to the right, with views over the Delaware Water Gap.

The trail now crosses a paved access road, then bears right and continues around a locked gate to cross another crushed-rock dam. Beyond the dam, the trail continues along a woods road through a forested area.

After passing through an area devastated by Superstorm Sandy, you’ll come to a junction. Bear right, and almost immediately, you’ll reach another intersection. Turn left, passing a bench, then turn right and continue on a footpath which descends gradually.

Bear left at the next junction to continue on the black-blazed Perimeter Trail. Just beyond, you’ll pass through a forest of red pines that was devastated by superstorm Sandy. After passing another viewpoint on the left, you’ll proceed through a section of the forest that was largely spared by the storm and emerge onto a paved road. Turn left, go through a stile around a locked gate, and cross the main dam of the reservoir. At the end of the dam, the trail continues along a wide gravel road, passing a 4.5-mile marker. It continues through a beautiful meadow and then crosses the fourth and final dam.

A short distance beyond the end of the dam, you’ll pass the 5.0-mile marker. Soon, you’ll pass through a meadow dotted with cedar trees. A short distance beyond, you’ll reach the boat launch parking area. Continue ahead through the parking area, climb wooden stairs to the right of a small building, and continue to climb on a footpath, bearing left at the next junction. The Perimeter Trail ends at a circular drive adjacent to the visitor center. Continue ahead to the main parking area where the hike began.

"Hiking" is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, a volunteer organization that builds and maintains over 1,800 miles of hiking trails and publishes a library of hiking maps and books, including "Walkable Westchester" ($24.95) and the "New York Walk Book" ($22.95). The Trail Conference's office is at 156 Ramapo Valley Rd. (Route 202), Mahwah; (201) 512-9348; nynjtc.org;HikeoftheWeek@aol.com.